The US diplomatic mission has been defunct and the building has not been used by the U.S. since the Iran hostage crisis of 1979.[1][2] Since then, the United States government has been represented in Iran by the United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran.[4] The name currently given to the compound by many Iranians is variously translated as "espionage den," "den of espionage", and "nest of spies".[1][5]

After the fall of the embassy, the Revolutionary Guard used it as a training center, and continue to maintain the complex.[6] The brick walls that form the perimeter (the embassy grounds are the size of a city block) feature a number of anti-American murals commissioned by the government of Iran.[6] The site has also housed a bookstore and a museum.[7]). As of January 2017, the site is open to the Iranian public and foreigners. The Great Seal of the United States is badly damaged, but still visible at the entryway.

‡ Missions which are located in countries or cities that may be considered a part of more than one continent.

1 Consulates-General which function as an embassy (ie. consul reports to State Department, not the respective country's ambassador)

2 The American Institute in Taiwan is ostensibly a public, non-profit organization to promote US-Taiwanese relations, but through State Department staffing & assistance, functions as an informal US diplomatic mission.